Discover Exmouth

Exmouth offers a range of ways to spend your stay: beach activities, coastal and estuary nature, cycling and cultural events. If you are looking for a hotel in Exmouth, first consider which of these sides of the town you would like to experience and when you plan to travel. At the beach, water sports and natural rock pools take centre stage; the Exe Estuary Trail is a cycling route, while the Pavilion and a walking tour offer other ways to plan your day.

Beach and coastal landscape

At Exmouth Beach, activities include paddleboarding, kayaking, water skiing and inflatable rides. Natural rock pools offer a different way to experience the beach: visitors can catch crabs there. Water sports and a visit to the rock pools are different reasons to spend time at the beach. Providers and conditions for specific activities may change, so check before making firm plans.

Named natural areas include The Maer, a local nature reserve, and Exmouth Local Nature Reserve. The latter is at the southern end of the Exe Estuary and includes tidal sand and mudflats. The coastal landscape is also evident at Orcombe Point: it lies at the western end and marks the start of the Jurassic Coast. The Geoneedle at Orcombe Point was built from rock types found along the World Heritage Coast. Exmouth therefore brings together a tidal estuary area and a connection to the World Heritage Coast.

Cycling along the Exe Estuary

The Exe Estuary Trail runs around the Exe Estuary from Dawlish to Exmouth. The cycling route is almost entirely traffic-free and largely flat. These features and the stated endpoints give you specific points to consider if you would like to include cycling in your travel plans. Along the cycling route from Exmouth, the Exe Estuary is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site. If coastal and estuary nature is part of your stay, you can combine the cycling route with these designated protected areas, without confusing the route information with additional promises about distance or journey time.

Walking tour and events

The walking tour by Exmouth Tours explores Exmouth’s past and present. Its route is just over 2.5 kilometres long and takes about 90 minutes. This makes it a clearly timed activity alongside the cycling route: the walking tour focuses on the town and its history, while the Exe Estuary Trail follows a route around the estuary. The walking tour’s availability may change, so check before booking.

Exmouth Pavilion is an Art Deco theatre with 541 seats, right on the seafront opposite Exmouth’s sandy beach. Its year-round programme includes live music, touring theatre, comedy, ballet, tribute shows and family performances. The programme changes. The Pavilion Gardens host free live music every Saturday and Sunday afternoon in summer; check the current schedule before your trip.

When planning your schedule, the cultural offerings differ: the Pavilion hosts events all year round, while the free music in the Pavilion Gardens takes place on summer weekends in the afternoon. The walking tour, meanwhile, takes about 90 minutes.

Discover more destinations: Cornworthy, Torrington, Horrabridge, Colyton, Honiton, Dawlish, North Bovey, Woodbury.

For the main travel overview: Devon.